Educational Leadership Tier I Certificate Program (Online)

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Degree Requirements: 18 Credit Hours

Completion of all program requirements leads to an Educational Leadership Tier I certification and a Teacher Leader Endorsement as approved by the GaPSC.

Admission Requirements

Regular Admission

Complete requirements for a master’s degree from a regionally accredited institution.
Possess or be eligible for a Georgia Professional Level Five Certificate or higher in a teaching, service, or leadership field.
Present a cumulative 2.75 (4.0 scale) grade point average or higher on all undergraduate and graduate work combined.
Submit a personal statement of purpose, not to exceed 200 words, that identifies the applicant’s reasons for pursuing graduate study and how admission into the program relates to the applicant’s professional aspirations.
Acknowledge Disclosure and Affirmation questions within the application that address misconduct disclosure, the Code of Ethics for Educators, and tort liability insurance.
Submit the Principal’s Assurance Form.
Submit a current resume or CV. Candidate must be employed in a P-12 school setting in order to complete required field experience hours.
Submit a passing score on the state-required Georgia Educator Ethics for Educational Leadership Assessment.

Provisional Admission

Applicants may be approved for provisional admission based on the quality of the admission material presented. Provisional students must earn grades of “B” or higher in their first nine (9) hours of course work after admission and meet any other stipulations outlined by the department to be converted to regular status.

Program of Study

Leadership Professional Core Requirements Credit Hours: 9

Teacher Leadership Endorsement Core Requirements Credit Hours: 9

Total Credit Hours: 18

Other Program Requirements

Candidate’s local Unit of Administration (LUA) is required to have entered into an agreement with Georgia Southern University that outlines the agreements related to Tier I Leadership preparation. Said agreement must state that the LUA and school agree to allow candidates to complete 250 hours of clinical practice (Supervised Field Experience) and to provide supporting documents, as well as access to opportunities to lead and participate in leadership functions as appropriate for completion of leadership performances. Additional requirements are listed below; additionally, candidates must comply with any rule changes and/or additions instituted by the GaPSC affecting Educational Leadership certification.
Passing score on the Georgia Assessments for the Certification of Educators® (GACE®) Educational Leadership Assessment prior to program completion.
All candidates must pass the Georgia Ethics for Educational Leadership Assessment prior to completion (if not completed for program admission).
Upon admission, candidates must claim Georgia Southern University as their provider. Candidates must log into their MyPSC account and claim Georgia Southern University as their provider,

**It is important to note that admission to and completion of Tier 1 does not ensure employment in a leadership position. Under state law, completion of an approved Tier 1 program will not lead to additional pay until employed by a local Unit of Administration (LUA) in a leadership position that requires Tier 1 certification.**

Advisement

Graduate students are advised by their program. Graduate students should reach out to their graduate program director for information regarding the structures in place to facilitate advisement. For more information visit Graduate Academic Advisement .

Graduate students can also contact the Jack N. Averitt College of Graduate Studies for more information about their program director.
Phone: 912-478-COGS (2647)
Email: gradschool@georgiasouthern.edu